The night was as black as ink, thick enough to be impenetrable.
Spirit City was not quiet at night, especially around the hotel where Shrek Academy was staying. A suffocating low pressure hung in the air.
Although they had won the match during the day—and won beautifully—there was little joy on the faces of the Shrek group.
In the living room of the hotel suite, the curtains were drawn tight.
"This tea's gone cold."
Flender lifted his teacup, then set it down heavily. The porcelain cup struck the table with a sharp clink.
No one replied.
Everyone knew that Han Yuchen's "Absolute Zero" finger strike during the day had not only frozen that new Kamikaze team, but also shattered Spirit Hall's dignity.
The look in Bibi Dong's eyes when she left had been like a poisoned blade.
"Old Poison just left."
Tang San broke the silence, pointing toward a shadow outside the window. "He said the Soul Power fluctuations around here are very abnormal tonight. Spirit Hall's patrols have withdrawn, and even the spies normally assigned to watch us are gone."
What that meant was obvious.
They were clearing the field.
It was a signal that they were about to make a move.
"These bastards really don't care about the rules anymore?" Dai Mubai slammed a fist into the armrest of the sofa, unable to suppress the fury in his eyes.
"Rules are made by the strong."
Master Yu Xiaogang sat in the corner, his expression stiff. "As long as they do it cleanly, the deaths of a few competing students—even geniuses—will just be called an accident."
Everyone's eyes turned, as if by agreement, toward Han Yuchen, who was seated in a single armchair.
As the day's biggest sensation, he was currently lounging with one leg crossed over the other,